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Tours in Phnom Penh |
Sightseeing Overview
Many of Phnom Penh's major sights of interest are close to the river, making a pleasant walking tour with plenty of places to stop for refreshment. Phnom Penh's attractions are not as glamorous as the temples of Angkor at Siem Reap, but visitors will enjoy the sumptuous Royal Palace and the neighbouring Silver Pagoda, which both survived the excesses of the Khmer Rouge.
The National Museum is worth a visit to help gain an understanding of the subtle changes of style between the pre- and post-Angkorian works of art, in preparation for a visit to Siem Reap.
Wat Ounalom, the headquarters of the Khmer Buddhist faith, suffered badly at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, with much of its library being thrown into the river and statues destroyed. However, much has been done to restore it. Wat Phnom, located on the only hill in Phnom Penh, is a great people-watching place as many residents come here to pray.
Tuol Sleng Museum is a moving place to visit: this former school, whose classrooms rung with the sound of young voices, became a prison in the Khmer Rouge years and is now a testimony to the brutality of that time.
The streets are on a grid system, more or less, with even-numbered streets east to west and odd numbers north to south. Note that most places of interest are open every day.
The National Museum is worth a visit to help gain an understanding of the subtle changes of style between the pre- and post-Angkorian works of art, in preparation for a visit to Siem Reap.
Wat Ounalom, the headquarters of the Khmer Buddhist faith, suffered badly at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, with much of its library being thrown into the river and statues destroyed. However, much has been done to restore it. Wat Phnom, located on the only hill in Phnom Penh, is a great people-watching place as many residents come here to pray.
Tuol Sleng Museum is a moving place to visit: this former school, whose classrooms rung with the sound of young voices, became a prison in the Khmer Rouge years and is now a testimony to the brutality of that time.
The streets are on a grid system, more or less, with even-numbered streets east to west and odd numbers north to south. Note that most places of interest are open every day.
Tourist Information
No such office exists in Phnom Penh yet, although there is a desk at the airport, but this is mainly a hotel booking service. In the provinces, most towns have a tourist office but there is little in the way of handouts and they are often closed, though staff are keen to help when the office is open. However, private tour companies do have some tourist information, although most literature relates to the tours they run. Reputable companies include Exotissimo Travel, 46 Norodom Boulevard (tel: (023) 218 948; website: www.exotissimo.com) and Diethelm Travel, 65 Street 240 (tel: (023) 219 151; website: www.diethelmtravel.com). A Phnom Penh Visitors' Guide is published quarterly and is freely available around the city.
Passes
There are currently no tourist passes in Phnom Penh.